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Sex Differences in Adolescent Depression: Stress Exposure and Reactivity Models
Author(s) -
Hankin Benjamin L.,
Mermelstein Robin,
Roesch Linda
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.00997.x
Subject(s) - stressor , psychology , depression (economics) , longitudinal study , reactivity (psychology) , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , depressive symptoms , interpersonal communication , psychiatry , cognition , medicine , social psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Stress exposure and reactivity models were examined as explanations for why girls exhibit greater levels of depressive symptoms than boys. In a multiwave, longitudinal design, adolescents' depressive symptoms, alcohol usage, and occurrence of stressors were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months later ( N =538; 54.5% female; ages 13–18, average 14.9). Daily stressors were coded into developmentally salient domains using a modified contextual‐threat approach. Girls reported more depressive symptoms and stressors in certain contexts (e.g., interpersonal) than boys. Sex differences in depression were partially explained by girls reporting more stressors, especially peer events. The longitudinal direction of effects between depression and stressors varied depending on the stressor domain. Girls reacted more strongly to stressors in the form of depression.